Face X-ray test

A facial X-ray is a series of pictures of the bones in the face. One type of facial X-ray (called a paranasal sinus X-ray series) looks at the air-filled cavities (sinuses) around the nose and eyes.

X-rays are a form of radiation, like light or radio waves, that are focused into a beam, much like a flashlight beam. X-rays can pass through most objects, including the human body. X-rays make a picture by striking a detector that either exposes a film or sends the picture to a computer. Dense tissues in the body, such as bones, block (absorb) many of the X-rays and look white on an X-ray picture. Less dense tissues, such as muscles and organs, block fewer of the X-rays (more of the X-rays pass through) and look like shades of gray on an X-ray. X-rays that pass only through air, such as through the lungs, look black on the picture.

A facial X-ray helps find bone fractures, tumors, foreign objects, infections, and abnormal growths or changes in bone structure or size. An X-ray of the eye (orbital cavity) may be taken if the eye has been injured. A computed tomography (CT) scan may be needed to check any problems seen on X-ray.

Why It Is Done

A facial or sinus X-ray may be done to:

Find problems of the sinuses of the face and nose, such as sinusitis or abnormal growths (polyps or tumors).
Find fractures of the facial bones and nose.
Check the bones around the eye (orbital cavity).
Check the sinuses before surgery.
Check for metal objects around the eyes before a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test.
Look for the cause of pain in the face.


How To Prepare

Before the X-ray test, tell your doctor if you are or might be pregnant. Pregnancy and the risk of radiation exposure to your unborn baby (fetus) must be considered. The risk of damage from the X-rays is usually very low compared with the potential benefits of the test. If a facial X-ray is absolutely necessary, a lead apron will be placed over your abdomen to shield your baby from exposure to the X-rays.

Risks

There is always a slight risk of damage to cells or tissue from being exposed to any radiation, including the low levels of radiation used for this test. But the risk of damage from the X-rays is usually very low compared with the potential benefits of the test.

For example, the radiation exposure from a chest X-ray is about equal to the natural radiation exposure received during a round-trip airline flight from Boston to Los Angeles (Montreal to Vancouver) or 10 days in the Rocky Mountains (Denver, Colorado).

Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form ( What is a PDF document? ).

You don't need to do anything else before you have this test.

How It Is Done

A facial X-ray is taken by a radiology technologist. The X-ray pictures are usually read by a doctor who specializes in interpreting X-rays (radiologist), but other doctors may also review the films.

You will need to remove any jewelry that may be in the way of the X-ray picture. You will also need to remove glasses or dentures.

You may be asked to lie on an X-ray table or sit in a chair. Several views (a series) of X-ray pictures are needed for clear pictures of the face. Your head may need to be repositioned for each view. You should hold your head completely still while the pictures are being taken. A padded brace, foam pads, a headband, or sandbags may be used to hold your head in place while the pictures are taken.

If pictures of the orbital cavities or sinuses are needed, you will usually sit up while they are taken. A padded brace may be used to hold your head still while the pictures are taken.

Facial X-rays usually take about 10 to 20 minutes. You will wait about 5 minutes until the X-rays are processed in case repeat pictures need to be taken. In some clinics and hospitals, X-ray pictures can be shown immediately on a computer screen (digitally).

How It Feels

You will feel no discomfort from the X-rays. The X-ray table may feel hard and the room may be cool. You may find that the positions you need to hold are uncomfortable or painful, especially if you have an injury.

A facial X-ray is a series of pictures of the bones in the face. One type of facial X-ray (called a paranasal sinus X-ray series) looks at the air-filled cavities (sinuses) around the nose and eyes.

X-rays are a form of radiation, like light or radio waves, that are focused into a beam, much like a flashlight beam. X-rays can pass through most objects, including the human body. X-rays make a picture by striking a detector that either exposes a film or sends the picture to a computer. Dense tissues in the body, such as bones, block (absorb) many of the X-rays and look white on an X-ray picture. Less dense tissues, such as muscles and organs, block fewer of the X-rays (more of the X-rays pass through) and look like shades of gray on an X-ray. X-rays that pass only through air, such as through the lungs, look black on the picture.

A facial X-ray helps find bone fractures, tumors, foreign objects, infections, and abnormal growths or changes in bone structure or size. An X-ray of the eye (orbital cavity) may be taken if the eye has been injured. A computed tomography (CT) scan may be needed to check any problems seen on X-ray.

A facial or sinus X-ray may be done to:

Find problems of the sinuses of the face and nose, such as sinusitis or abnormal growths (polyps or tumors).
Find fractures of the facial bones and nose.
Check the bones around the eye (orbital cavity).
Check the sinuses before surgery.
Check for metal objects around the eyes before a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test.
Look for the cause of pain in the face.

Before the X-ray test, tell your doctor if you are or might be pregnant. Pregnancy and the risk of radiation exposure to your unborn baby (fetus) must be considered. The risk of damage from the X-rays is usually very low compared with the potential benefits of the test. If a facial X-ray is absolutely necessary, a lead apron will be placed over your abdomen to shield your baby from exposure to the X-rays.

Extremity x-ray test

An extremity x-ray is an image of the hands, wrist, feet, ankle, leg, thigh, forearm humerus or upper arm, hip, shoulder or all of these areas. The term "extremity" often refers to a human limb.

X-rays are a form of radiation that passes through the body to form an image on film. Structures that are dense (such as bone) will appear white. Air will be black, and other structures will be shades of gray.

How the Test is Performed
The test is done in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider's office. X-ray is done by an x-ray technologist.

You will need to hold still as the x-ray is taken. You may be asked to change position, so more x-rays can be taken.

How to Prepare for the Test
Tell your provider if you are pregnant. Remove all jewelry from the area being imaged.

In general, there is no discomfort. You may be slightly uncomfortable while the leg or arm is put in place for the x-ray.

Why the Test is Performed
Your provider may order this test if you have signs of:

A fracture
Tumor
Arthritis (inflammation of the joints)
Normal Results
The x-ray shows normal structures for the age of the person.

What Abnormal Results Mean
Abnormal results may be due to:

Bone conditions that get worse over time (degenerative)
Bone tumor
Broken bone (fracture)
Dislocated bone
Osteomyelitis (infection)
Arthritis
Other conditions for which the test may be performed:

Clubfoot
To detect foreign objects in the body
Risks
There is low-level radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the smallest amount of radiation exposure needed to make the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits.

Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of an x-ray.

Dental X-ray test?

There are two main types of dental X-rays: intraoral (meaning the X-ray film is inside the mouth) and extraoral (meaning the X-ray film is outside the mouth).

Intraoral X-rays are the most common type of dental X-ray taken. These X-rays provide a lot of detail and allow your dentist to find cavities, check the health of the tooth root and bone surrounding the tooth, check the status of developing teeth, and monitor the general health of your teeth and jawbone.
Extraoral X-rays show teeth, but their main focus is the jaw and skull. These X-rays do not provide the detail found with intraoral X-rays and therefore are not used for detecting cavities or for identifying problems with individual teeth. Instead, extraoral X-rays are used to look for impacted teeth, monitor growth and development of the jaws in relation to the teeth, and to identify potential problems between teeth and jaws and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ, see temporomandibular disorders for more information) or other bones of the face.

Types of Intraoral X-Rays
There are several types of intraoral X-rays, each of which shows different aspects of teeth.


Bite-wing X-rays show details of the upper and lower teeth in one area of the mouth. Each bite-wing shows a tooth from its crown to about the level of the supporting bone. Bite-wing X-rays are used to detect decay between teeth and changes in bone density caused by gum disease. They are also useful in determining the proper fit of a crown (or cast restoration) and the marginal integrity of fillings.
Periapical X-rays show the whole tooth -- from the crown to beyond the end of the root to where the tooth is anchored in the jaw. Each periapical X-ray shows this full tooth dimension and includes all the teeth in one portion of either the upper or lower jaw. Periapical X-rays are used to detect any abnormalities of the root structure and surrounding bone structure.
Occlusal X-rays are larger and show full tooth development and placement. Each X-ray reveals the entire arch of teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.

Types of Extraoral X-Rays
There are several types of extraoral X-rays that your dentist may take.

Panoramic X-rays show the entire mouth area -- all the teeth in both the upper and lower jaws -- on a single X-ray. This type of X-ray is useful for detecting the position of fully emerged as well as emerging teeth, can identify impacted teeth, and aid in the diagnosis of tumors.


Tomograms show a particular layer or "slice" of the mouth while blurring out all other layers. This type of X-ray is useful for examining structures that are difficult to clearly see -- for instance, because other structures are in very close proximity to the structure to be viewed.
Cephalometric projections show the entire side of the head. This type of X-ray is useful for examining the teeth in relation to the jaw and profile of the individual. Orthodontists use this type of X-ray to develop their treatment plans.
Sialography involves visualization of the salivary glands following the injection of a dye. The dye, called a radiopaque contrast agent, is injected into the salivary glands so that the organ can be seen on the X-ray film (the organ is a soft tissue that would not otherwise be seen with an X-ray). Dentists might order this type of test to look for salivary gland problems, such as blockages or Sjögren's syndrome.
Computed tomography, otherwise known as CT scanning, shows the body's interior structures as a three-dimensional image. This type of X-ray, which may be performed in a hospital or radiology center or a dental office, is used to identify problems in the bones of the face, such as tumors or fractures. CT scans are also used to evaluate bone for the placement of dental implants and difficult extractions. This helps the surgeon avoid possible complications during and after a surgical procedure.

Current Technology
There's a newer dental X-ray technique that your dentist already may be using or may soon be using. It's called digital imaging. Instead of developing X-ray film in a dark room, the X-rays are sent directly to a computer and can be viewed on screen, stored, or printed out. There are several benefits of using this new technology:

The technique uses less radiation than the typical X-ray and there is no wait time for the X-rays to develop -- the images are available on screen a few seconds after being taken.
The image taken, of a tooth for example, can be enhanced and enlarged many times its actual size on the computer screen, making it easier for your dentist to show you where and what the problem is.
If necessary, images can be electronically sent to another dentist or specialist -- for instance, for a second opinion on a dental problem -- to determine if a specialist is needed, or to a new dentist (if you move).
Software added to the computer can help dentists digitally compare current images to previous ones in a process called subtraction radiography. Using this technique, everything that is the same between two images is "subtracted out" from the image, leaving a clear image of only the portion that is different. This helps dentists easily see the tiniest changes that may not have been noticed by the naked eye.

What Is an Abdominal Film?
An abdominal film, also known as an abdominal X-ray, helps your doctor assess potential problems in your abdominal cavity, stomach, and intestines. Your doctor may perform this procedure to help detect a particular condition such as kidney stones or gallstones. Instead of examining the entire abdominal area, your doctor may order a KUB X-ray, which is a variation of an abdominal film that focuses on the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. The procedure gets its name from the first letter of each of these body parts.

Why Are Abdominal Films Ordered?
Your doctor might order an abdominal X-ray if you’re having one or more of the symptoms like chronic nausea, ongoing vomiting, abdominal pain, flank or back pain or abdominal swelling. Your doctor may also order this test if they think that you might have any of conditions like an abdominal aortic aneurysm, Addison’s disease, adenomyosis, anemia (idiopathic aplastic or secondary aplastic), pancreatic, appendicitis, ascariasis, atheroembolic renal disease, biliary atresia, blind loop syndrome, cholangitis, cholecystitis, chronic renal failure, cirrhosis, Echinococcus infection, Hirschsprung’s disease, intestinal pseudo-obstruction (primary or idiopathic), intussusception (in children), kidney failure, a kidney injury, necrotizing enterocolitis, nephrocalcinosis, peritonitis, renal artery stenos is, renal cell carcinoma, toxic mega colon, a ureter injury or Wilma’ tumour. An abdominal film can also help your doctor locate the precise position of an object you’ve swallowed. Alternatively, your doctor might use this test to make sure that a tube or catheter is in the correct location. These are often placed to allow for drainage or the administration of fluids or gases.

Preparing for an Abdominal Film
Unless your doctor informs you otherwise, you won’t need to fast, change your diet, or do anything major to prepare for an abdominal film. Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant. Abdominal films involve low levels of radiation and are typically not recommended for pregnant women. If you’re pregnant, your doctor will probably choose to do an ultrasound to avoid any risk to the fetus. Tell your doctor about any medications you’re taking. This is particularly important if you have taken Pesto-Bismol or another medication containing bismuth in the four days before the abdominal film. Bismuth can affect the clarity of the images, so your doctor needs to know if you’ve taken it. Inform your doctor if you have recently had an X-ray test that involved barium contrast material. Similar to the bismuth in Pesto-Bismol, barium can prevent a clear picture in your abdominal film.

Abdominal Film Procedure
When you arrive at the office for your abdominal X-ray, you’ll need to remove any jewellery. You’ll probably also need to change into a hospital gown. You’ll likely need to lie down on your back on a table. In some cases, you may need to lie on your side or even stand up instead. Depending on what your doctor is looking for, you might need to have X-rays taken from several angles. This means you might be asked to change positions. You must remain perfectly still during the X-ray. You may even need to hold your breath at certain points to ensure that your abdomen doesn’t move.

Interpreting the Results of Your Abdominal Film
An abdominal film can reveal various issues in the abdomen. These include a mass, fluid build-up, an injury, a blockage, a foreign object, stones in the gallbladder, bladder, kidneys, or ureters. The film also allows your doctor to identify whether certain organs are enlarged or out of their proper position. Remember that an abdominal film only lets your doctor see what’s going on in your abdomen. It does not detect all possible problems or give definitive answers to all of your questions. Your doctor will discuss the implications of any issues detected in the abdominal film. Some findings may require further tests.